Mailbag

Letters from our readers

"Mailbag" Continued...

"Congressman contra mundum" (Jan. 29)

I very much appreciated the pro-life focus of your Jan. 29 edition. Rep. Huelskamp called his family "an alternative to abortion." I cannot agree more. As our pro-life legislators work to preserve the lives of these babies, it is imperative also to push for abstinence education and easier, cheaper adoptions. Hannah Fourtner; Perry, Okla.

The photo of the baby on the cover of your Jan. 29 issue should be sufficient by itself to overthrow Roe v. Wade. We can't quit looking at it and melting into memories of our children many years ago. How precious! Bill & Letha Swenson; St. Louis, Mo.

"Red zone defense" (Jan. 29)

If what Georgette Forney of Anglicans for Life said was true, that we've won the battle over whether it is a baby, why do Christians stand idle while babies are murdered? It just proves that people know it is a baby but don't care. Education hasn't changed hearts and minds. Lolita Hanks; Littleton, Colo.

Pro-lifers should stress our approval of a "woman's right to choose" concerning her own body. But her fetus is not her body and DNA proves it. Ethelyn Watson; Marlton, N.J.

I wondered how the chart showing the total number of abortion clinics per state might be different if viewed on a per capita basis. After dividing state population totals by the number of clinics in each state, I found that the top five states with the highest rates of abortion facilities per capita were Hawaii, Vermont, California, Connecticut, and New York. Those with the lowest were Mississippi, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, and Kansas. Bob Beasley; Asheville, N.C.

"A better way" (Jan. 29)

I totally agree that boycotting Apple is not helpful. Previous boycotts have been poor strategy and possibly bad press for Christians. However, I voted with my money and over the holidays bought an Android phone, which, unlike the iPhone, isn't limited to Apple-approved apps. Christians who love their gadgets need to realize that entrusting our entire reading collection to Amazon, or our entire app collection to Apple, is not a wise move for the future freedom and education of Christians. Paper books and open gadgets are the way to go. Mark Ritchie; Wylie, Texas

If a business doesn't keep good standards or caters to a certain type of clientele, I as a free American may take my business to someone else. I don't have to be "mean-spirited and ugly" about it. Isn't that what business and competition in America is all about? Thomas L. Bailey; Butler, Ohio

Paul was rather clear that we can't expect the world to act like Christians and we can't live as economic or social hermits. If Apple claimed to be a "Christian" company, then perhaps a boycott would be warranted in good conscience. R.G. Murray; Del Rio, Texas

I agree that the results of boycotts are hard to measure and tend to make us appear foolish sometimes. But I think the idea is sound, it's just the application is difficult. My job as a graphic artist leaves me dependent on Apple, but after reading your article I will express my disagreement with its overbearing policy. Forrest Martin; Cumming, Ga.

"Marching on" (Jan. 29)

We live in a time where progress is supposed to make life easier and less stressful, yet self-help product sales are in the billions. We are not happier, just more numb to reality. We need to strive for more simplicity in our everyday lives and focus on what matters most: God and family. Thank you for reminding us that as life speeds by, we need time to put down our devices and pick up our thoughts. Phillip Owen; Kissimmee, Fla.

Although I am rediscovering the joy of reading with an iPad I received for Christmas, I yearn for more time simply to "be still and know." Sadly, this often feels more like "sneaking away" from responsibilities than "marching on." Judith Burr; Bethel Park, Pa.

Is there room in our daily lives for contemplation? Is there room to give others the kind of time my parents (and I) were once able to give to friends and those in need? With all there is that beckons us to "try it out," there's not much time left in a day that's still 24 hours long. Thanks for reminding me of what's still important. Bruce Langford; Rainbow City, Ala.

"Finding security amid insanity" (Jan. 29)

I find it disturbing that so many members of Congress appear to be so concerned about their personal welfare while being so callous concerning the rights of millions of unborn and partial-born babies. Dan A. Steele; Falls Church, Va.

"Grace and dignity" (Jan. 29)

I stumbled upon Downton Abbey and am following the series with my 19-year-old daughter, so I appreciated Megan Basham's cogent observations. Having grown up in a household heavily influenced by an English immigrant, I find laugh-out-loud moments in each episode. Carolyn Schlicher; Elizabethtown, Pa.

"'Tis the season" (Jan. 29)

This article was a gruesome reminder of our Christmas Eve in 2001 in Jakarta, Indonesia. There were 38 bombs in 10 cities with 14 killed and 138 injured. Where are the equal rights to practice one's religion in these Islamic or Islamic-majority countries? Neil Johnston; Grand Prairie, Texas

"Life briefs" (Jan. 29)

I was a bit distressed to see the phrase "death panels" in this article. As a strongly pro-life physician, I often help families work through very difficult decisions. Too often, families are paralyzed because they and their loved ones have never had a frank discussion about end-of-life wishes. The so-called "death panel" provision would only compensate (and thus encourage) physicians to have discussions about these difficult decisions with their patients before they actually get sick. It has nothing to do with rationing care. Aubrey Tell; Greenwood, S.C.

"The anti-bully pulpit" (Jan. 29)

Janie Cheaney quotes the definition of harassment in the Clementi Act as any action that "'limits' a student's educational opportunity or creates 'a hostile or abusive educational environment.'" This definition would apply to atheist and liberal professors who bully Christian or conservative students. The anti-bully czars will have to work overtime to explain why it does not apply in these instances but does in others. David Tyson; Broomall, Pa.

"Cam can" (Jan. 29)

I was saddened to see WORLD drag out a decade-old story on Eugene Robinson and not follow up with God's work in his life over the past 10 years. He made a grave error, but Christianity is a story of redemption. He currently coaches three sports at Charlotte Christian School and is a tremendous role model for hundreds of young athletes. We are proud to stand with him. Barry Giller, Charlotte Christian School; Charlotte, N.C.

"Another new NIV?" (Jan. 1)

Used to reinforce gender equality without regard for the original text, gender-neutral language deserves the contempt it sparks from lovers of truth. But if careful scholarship breaches the hull of time-honored but inaccurate translations, let us find the deepest place in the ocean and scuttle away! Patricia Melzer; Milford, Pa.